Looking Foxy in World of Warcraft

Last month, I mentioned I was on my way to getting a Vulpera character in the World of Warcraft MMO. Well, finally last week, I met the requirements, and did the questline in which my demon hunter and a few of the foxfolk helped out the Horde with a few problems, notably a peon strike, and afterwards were welcomed by Warchief Baine as members of the Horde. So finally that one friend of mine who's been egging me on now has a new foxy teammate. Since Vulpera had been going about making the best of what the desert had to offer, perhaps it might be appropriate for one to try and make the elements work for him. Not to mention earth magic "rocks." So I made my first one a shaman.

So what now? I'll probably be too busy for the next month covering the rest of the Relay season and the Second Life Birthday to spend too much time in Warcraft. Still, it's nice to know I can now be foxy in Azeroth as well as Second Life. Not that being a Tauren, Worgen, or Pandaren was so bad.

As Nydia would say, "good gaming to you."

Bixyl / Bixii

World of Warcraft: Quest For Vulpera

So what do Second Life residents do when they're not playing Second Life? Many of my friends play online games. And recently a new playable race has gotten the attention of some on World of Warcraft, to play as a foxlike Vulpera. So how can one be a fox in Warcraft as well as in Second Life? Well, it's not easy, and yours truly is only partially there.

Read more in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

World of Warcraft Update 8.3 "Visions of N'zoth" Live

After weeks of anticipation, the MMO World of Warcraft's major update 8.3, "Visions of N'zoth," is now live and running. The main point of "Visions" is one of the old gods is out to wreck havoc on Azeroth with visions of madness (above video link), and once again it's up to the heroes of the Alliance and Horde to save the day.

But this isn't all. Two new "allied races," or races available as player-characters once you finish certain achievements, are now available. The Alliance have the Mechagnomes, and the Horde have the foxlike Vulpera. The latter have gotten the attention of many of my friends to the point one managed to do the required achievements to be able to make one (intro video link).

Nobble87 did a video checking out their character creation, mount, emotes, and one special ability (link), of which there were a number of comments, "I wish I never saw the /sleep emote. 15 years of Alliance loyalty down the tubes." "How are we going to PVP them? I will be feeling like I am going to be kicking a puppy."

So will Azeroth see a population explosion of Vulpera? Will the Alliance find themselves outfoxed? Feel free to leave comments below, or send in  your own stories about Azeroth's new foxy heroes and heroines.

Sources: World of Warcraft, MMO Champion

Bixyl Shuftan

News and Commentary: More on Blizzard's China Controversy

This month, the players of the game "World of Warcraft" are celebrating it's fifteenth anniversary, with in-game presents, events, and bonus experience. But there's been a dark cloud over the celebrations. It was last month that the company that owns Warcraft, Blizzard/Activision, banned a player from Hong Kong in another game, Hearthstone, after when given a chance to speak on a televised stream, he called for the freedom of the people of his city. Since the Newser's first article on the subject, the situation has continued to develop. And finally at Blizzard's annual convention, the company President addressed the issue.

Read more in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

News and Commentary: Blizzard's Removing Hong Kong Gamer From Tournament Sparks Calls for Boycott, Debate on Free Speech

For years, American companies have been trying to get into the Chinese market. With over a billion people, the potential number of customers for a large business is huge. However, the country is under the control of a dictatorship that does not react well to criticism or remarks in opposition to it's goals. It frequently makes demands to such companies, and penalizes those already in for perceived comments or actions against it. The debate flared up again this week thanks to three stories in the news. One of them was a tournament of players of the Hearthstone game, which is owned by the same company that owns the still noted MMO game World of Warcraft. When one winner was interviewed, he proclaimed his support for the protestors in the city of Hong Kong. Blizzard soon reacted with actions many of its customers have found troubling, including yours truly whom had recently just signed up for Warcraft again after an extended break.

Read the story in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.